March 7, 2013

OSU Center for Health Sciences presents medallions to donors, faculty

OSU Center for Health Sciences and the OSU Foundation hosted a special reception on March 4 recognizing the generosity of donors to the institution's 12 endowed faculty positions and the professors in those positions.

OSU presented both groups with bronze medallions to signify their importance in establishing a standard of excellence in research and education.

Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU-CHS, thanked the donors for their foresight and long-term investment to OSU-CHS, which will help forge a brighter future for Oklahoma.

Howard Barnett, president of OSU-Tulsa and OSU-CHS, praised donors and faculty for their dedication March 4 during a medallion ceremony at Founders Hall on the OSU-CHS campus. The event honored donors who have given to 12 endowed faculty positions and the professors who hold those positions. OSU gave both groups bronze medallions to signify their importance in establishing a standard of excellence in research and education.

"We applaud these generous donors for their foresight and understanding that all chairs and professorships represent a long-term investment in the future of our university," Barnett said. "Whether it's the education of the next generation of physicians, research resulting in new medical advancements or developments in the field of forensic sciences, the Center for Health Sciences is helping to forge a brighter future for Oklahoma."

OSU President Burns Hargis welcomed guests and spoke about the importance of these positions at a land-grant institution. He told the audience he was proud of the leadership exhibited by Barnett and Dr. Kayse Shrum, provost of OSU-CHS and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

"Their team is making great strides and we look forward to seeing all that will be accomplished going forward," Hargis said.

Shrum, who holds the George Kaiser Family Foundation Chair in Medical Excellence and Service, is the youngest and first female provost and dean of a medical school in state history. She closed the event by reiterating that it represented a special day in the institution's history.

"As a graduate of OSU-CHS, I have long had an appreciation for what an outstanding place this is and I feel lucky to be part of all that is being accomplished here," Shrum said. "I am proud to be associated with such an accomplished group of individuals and I am more confident than ever that we are equipped to continue setting a new standard for excellence in healthcare. I want to thank all of today's honorees for establishing an even brighter future for Oklahoma State."

Those honored at the ceremony include:

Faculty

Douglas Foster, Paul Peter Koro Endowed Chair in Surgery

Dean Fulligim, AT&T Professorship in Telemedicine

James Hess, Stillwater National Bank and Trust Company Professorship in Health Care Administration

Joseph Johnson, George Kaiser Family Foundation Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology